San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-12-15
CHAPTER xyIm.-wEAH1NG THE MASK.

CHAPTER XvIII.-wEARING THE MASK.
"And pray, Amy, why shouldn't go tc
the meet on Aston LawfOId's cOach?"
So spoke Miss Valerie Herbert, leaning
back in a low chair in her own boudoir,
her hands clasped behind her head, show
ing every curve of the beautiful white
arms as the loose sleeves fell back from
the elbows, her great slate gray eyes fixed
in quizzical arcEness on the pretty face of
Amy LinwOol, who sat opposite at the lit
tie inlaid tea-table.
That intimacy, so easily formed between
young people near each other in age and
sympathetic in temperament, had sprung
up between Amy-a girl of one or two and
twenty-and Valerie, although the confid.
enCe was all on one side.
Valerie had the un-girl-like quality Of
intense reserve. With all her outward
vivacity, she kept her inner life to herself
Amy knew nothing of the secret springs of
her friends character. She told her own
troubles to a sympathiZing listener, but
received no condolences in return. She
knew only of Valerie's engagement to
Louis Charters because she had asked the
question, and Valerie, of course, admitted
the fact; but though Amy, wOman-like,
would have welcomed little ''gush" about
Louis-how they came TO love each other,
etc. she got none upon this or any other
subject Valerie would have died sooner
than betray to any human being the faint
est hint that Max Beauregard was more to
her than man she had met, and danced
with, and liked, as she might have liked
many others.
what! going on the box-seat of Law
ford's drag Amy had exclaimed, when
informed of the fact; and Valerie's reply
to the question somewhat staggered her
friend.
The brown eyes met the gray ones with
puzzled stare-the latter never fiinching;
then Amy laughed.
ooh, WELL" she said, 81 suppose it's all
right! Only you know what people will
say! At the ball last night he was like
your shadow"
Valerie laughed out merrily; but there
was a tone in the laugh Max Beauregard
would scarcely have liked to hear-a touch
of recklesSness, yelled sneer, to which
the Valerie, Of the Lines, was a total
stranger.
IF cast such a shadow as that" she
said, 81 must be under spell Of enchant-
mentf On, yes," relapsing into a yawu,
what a bore he wasp
Don't talk like that, Valerie. / do be-
neve the man is fond of you"
Don't abuse him behind his back be-
cause | am civil to his facem returned Va
lerie. Now, if had said that you might
have detected remains of Arcadian sim
plicity; but you ought to know better. Isn't
it the correct thing to pull all your friends
to pieces when they're not by To fljrt
with men, and laugh at them in your
sleeve all the time? Give me another cup
of tea, Amy, and don't play Phyllis"
You can't mean what you say" said
Amy, distressed, nevertheless, to hear her
young friend talk ir such strain. You
could not lead a man on, to throw him
over in the end. Besides, you are still en-
gagged to Mr.. Charters, are you not"
A swift color crossed Valerie's cheek; the
hand with which she took the cup from
her friend trembled
Eyes" she said, carelessly. what thenW
"Only he mightn't like your giving so
much countenance to the rumors going
about concerning you and Mr.. LawfOrd.'
"By going on the box-seatf But Louis
isn't in town. I haven't seen him since
before / went abroad. He is with his
father, who is i'll"
HE is sure to hear Of 1t, Valerie, and
might be in town before the meet: it isn't
until Wednesday week"
Again the quick color in Valerie's cheek,
but this time it was no thought of Louis
that called 1t up but another thought.
HE will be in London by then. He may
be thereI'
She said, slowly, after pause:
81 don't want to deceive Louis, Amy.
was testing just now. l would tell him
myself was on Lawford's drag, or any
thing else did. can't let Louis or any
one else hamper me or dictate to me-"
Amy looked steadily into the beautiful
face, but Valerie Stunned the gaze. She
was acting, If not actually speaking false
hood; belying her noble nature to hide her
secret; willfully misleading her friend into
believing her ambitious and mercenary.
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